Secret voting for Rajya Sabha elections should be restored. Open-voting system for these elections has virtually given open licence for sale of MLAs’ votes by party-bosses for the Upper House of Parliament which has become ‘billionaire’s club’ because of ultra-rich persons reaching Rajya Sabha through purchase of party-tickets.
Only those who haven’t contested any election in life should be appointed as nominated members of Rajya Sabha. Curious case of George Fernandes having been elected Rajya Sabha member despite having lost all his memory (even oath read by another Parliamentarian), even calls for some minimum medical-fitness certificate before allowing contesting elections. Invalid votes found in elections to posts of President and Vice President where only Parliamentarians vote, also call for at least some minimum qualification to reach Upper House of Parliament.
However since Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishads) in states do not serve any fruitful purpose, Constitution should be amended to abolish provision of Legislative Councils in states.
Madhu Agrawal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
